#87: Calamari Fritti at Mangia Italiano

​Given how many restaurants serve fried calamari, you would expect more places to get the dish right. The equation is simple enough: tender squid + crisp-fried batter + a dipping sauce with, you know, actual flavor. Sadly, most versions of this ever-popular dish strike out on at least one of the essentials. South Grand stalwart Mangia Italiano nails all three: the calamari is never too chewy -- usually it's not chewy at all -- the batter is fried a crisp, milk-chocolate brown, and the accompanying arrabbiata sauce is a terrific blend of chile heat, garlic and tomato.

I'm counting down -- in no particular order -- 100 of my favorite
dishes in St. Louis. Some are well-known, others obscure. Some are
expensive, others dirt cheap. All of them, I guarantee, are delicious.
Please do not hesitate to share your own favorites via the comments
thread.